Pruwer forgotten maestro Pristine PASC674

Julius Prüwer (conductor) Forgotten maestro (Pristine)

A welcome to a neglected conductor from the early electrical recording period in Berlin [GT]

Frederick franssen horn concertos challenge CC72904

Fréderick Franssen (horn) (Challenge)

A virtuoso hornist addresses newly discovered Baroque repertoire [SV]

Scriabin orchestral piano sonata BIS2362

Scriabin: Orchestral (BIS)

Good, solid orchestral performances, very well recorded; the sonata is a welcome bonus [DM]

vivaldi bobesco fr2046

Vivaldi: Violin Sonatas (Forgotten Records)

Playing of elegance and refinement [SG]

dvorak poetic andsnes 19439912092

Dvořák: Poetic Tone Pictures (Sony)

A generous-minded performance somewhat let down by idiosyncratic recording quality [JW]

lourie chamber TOCC0652

Lourié: Chamber and Instrumental Music Vol. 1 (Toccata)

A transplanted Russian composer who valued intimate conjunctions and statuesque ritual [JW]

Fleming met 4853569

Renée Fleming (soprano) Greatest Moments at the Met (Decca)

These live recordings form a tribute to one of the great voices of the past quarter-century [RMo]

rimsky-Korsakov christmas NBD0154V

Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve (Naxos)

A superlative cast in a crisply modern, but relatively faithful production of a rarely performed opera [MP]

Leoncavallo piano C00629

Leoncavallo: Piano Works (Da Vinci Classics)

Melodious salon pieces with some attractive and impish surprises [RCh]

Gregson world DOYCD414

Gregson: Music Vol. 7 (Doyen)

Another volume of Edward Gregson’s brass band music, rewarding and engaging [JF]

Cornetto F10266

Virtuoso Music of the 16th & 17th Century for Cornetto (Arta)

Perfect demonstration of the excitement that the cornett can arouse [JV]

Maria Kliegel (cello) Anniversary Edition (Naxos)

A fine cellist – expression, technical mastery, character all there – but a shame that this is a collection of excerpts [RB]

Mozart: Symphonies (Genuin)

The outer movements of Symphony 41 are splendid; elsewhere Klumpp’s Mozart can be a shade relentless [MG]

Schubert: Schwanengesang (Pentatone)

The final instalment of Bostridge’s Schubert trilogy is a partnership of equals, voice and piano coming together to create something very special [ST]

Boult decca legacy

Sir Adrian Boult: The Decca Legacy Vol. 2 (Eloquence)

Boult’s Deccas handsomely boxed; two Messiahs, Acis and miscellaneous recitals [JW]

Toscha Seidel (violin): Rare and Newly Re-mastered! (Parnassus)

The molten tonalist Toscha Seidel triumphs in a selection of his 78s [JW]

Song of Beasts (Ramée)

Impressive performances of fascinating medieval music about real and mythological creatures [JV]

Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore (Dynamic)

Another impressive release by the Donizetti Opera festival, uncut and on original instruments [RWe]

Abel: Cello Concertos (Hänssler Classic)

Four graceful concertante works of the mid to late 18th century, which may not excite but do entertain [DJB]

Aaron Rosand (violin) The First Recordings (Biddulph)

Rosand’s first Vox recordings are restored for a new generation [JW]

Balakirev: Orchestral Works (MDG)

Attractive but undemanding scores performed with care and well recorded [NB]

Rastrelli Effect (Solo Musica)

Pleasant, with many different styles, but little to arouse much excitement [DJB]

Tomasi: Complete Violin Works (Naxos)

I have nothing but praise for this splendid disc [SG]

Adams: Sila (Cantaloupe)

Almost impossible to evaluate, but this has opened my eyes, ears and mind to something quite new [WH]